ARE YOU AWARE OF THE STRENGTH YOU HAVE FOR FACING CHALLENGES?

SCRIPTURE:
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you 
may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious 
inheritance in his holy people, and His incomparably great power for us 
who believe. That power is like the working of His mighty strength, which 
He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at 
his right hand in the heavenly realms. 
(Ephesians 1:18-20)

MEDITATION:
Paul was a man who knew, and had experienced 
the challenges for followers of Christ.
Consequently, he wanted to encourage the Ephesian believers, 
so he told them in a letter that he was praying for them.
But what did he pray for?

He wanted them to realize that God has a purpose for believers, so he prayed 
that their spiritual eyes would be opened to the knowledge God has for them.
When he says, “the eyes of your heart”, it seems that Paul was praying that 
they would have more than an intellectual knowledge of God’s will for them.
He prayed that the knowledge 
would permeate their hearts and spur them to action.

At the same time, he reminded them of God’s riches available for the saints.
Paul wanted them to know that God had prepared them for action, 
and would bless them as they fulfilled His purpose for them.
It doesn’t appear that Paul was saying, 
“If you want to be blessed, then do what God has prepared you to do”. 
It is more likely that Paul was encouraging them by saying, 
“As you do what God has prepared you to do, 
you will receive additional blessings from the God who reads your heart”.

God created us all for the purpose of doing ‘good works’, and when we are 
saved, it is time to engage in doing the things He has prepared us to do.
Paul prayed that the Ephesian Christians would realize God’s power 
was available to them as they did ‘good works’.
“power” is a translation of the word from which we get the word “dynamite”.
God’s power helps us to overcome seemingly impossible obstacles.

“working” translates from the word “energeian”, 
from which we get the word “energy”.
God will provide us with the energy we need to do what He created us to do.

“mighty” is a word that means “power resident in the subject”. 
This power is in us, because Christ is in us.

“strength” comes from a word meaning “sufficiency”. 
As we get to know Christ better, 
we discover He is sufficient to meet all our needs.

“exerted in Christ” indicates that 
Christ is the One causing the work to be accomplished.
We should never try to take credit for His work.

And lastly, Paul wanted them (and us) to know that they had 
a supernatural power assisting them as they fulfilled God’s purpose.
It is the same power that “raised Christ from the dead”.
The power of that magnitude is available 
to help believers deal with life’s difficulties.

ACTION:
Aren’t you glad that the Bible includes Paul’s letter to the Ephesians?
You have the luxury of reading his prayer for the believers in Ephesus 
and applying those principles to your own life.
Through his communication with the Ephesians, 
you can see that God has a purpose for you, and that 
He has equipped you for fulfilling His desire for you to do good works.

Not only that, but when you obey His will for you, 
you will receive His blessings and strength.
God gives you the ability 
to rise above circumstances that would devastate most people.
He has given you the strength and wisdom 
to use adverse circumstances as a way of serving and glorifying Christ.

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for Your promises within the pages of the 
bible. Open my spiritual eyes to what you want me to do and give me a 
heart to fulfill Your purpose for me. Thank You for the spiritual gift 
and strength You provide, and for how I will be blessed as I follow the 
path You have charted for me. I pray that I will allow Christ to work in 
and through me and that I will never try to take credit for what He is 
doing. Thank You for giving me a new purpose for living.”